I was completely in control of myself now. I gave the smile I had ready for clients and colleagues.
“I am sure we can work something out.”
“I don’t think we can,” Natalie muttered.
Her hair was longer than I remembered her wearing it at college. She looked young. I tried to think how old she must be now, maybe 24? She was so innocent back then, a freshman, barely out of school.
“You’re good with him,” I said, pointing to Ethan. “That is what’s most important to me. I can double your rate.”
She looked up quickly, and I felt the flush of victory.
Money talked, didn’t? It spoke a beautiful language everyone understood, no matter where you were from or how you were brought up. I had always loved how it managed to open doors, solve disputes, make all unpleasantness go away. It was the way of the world. Once I had managed to grow my business into a national success, found myself on the cover of magazines, even called the city’s most desirable billionaire in one article, oh, how everything had changed. Life had become so much easier. I could have anything I wanted. Anyone I wanted. It was not exactly true, but I would not even allow the whisper of any contrary thought to enter my mind. It was mostly true, almost completely. Even a girl like Natalie, who never had gone much for material things or worldly possessions, could not resist the lure of money.
“Double it?” she repeated, and I could see her thinking, adding the numbers up in her head.
“Would that help?” I tried to sound caring and considerate, as if that came naturally to me. I knew it was called for in this situation.
“But… wouldn’t it be weird, awkward? I mean… you and I… after all, we did….”
I cut her off right there.
“What’s past is past, isn’t it?” I pulled out the big smile again, the winning smile. “No need to haul out all that, is there? It’s long gone, water under the bridge!”
She seemed uncertain, though.
I had to convince her.
Suddenly, it was very important to me.
It had nothing to do with Ethan, even though that, of course, was very convenient.
But no, the real reason was that I didn’t want her to leave.
I wanted her, right here, under my roof. Close.
“We’ll hardly see each other,” I said. “And I will keep out of your way.”
Would I? I doubted that.
She bit her lip.
“You have your own room at the back of the house, it is miles away from the rest of us. And every second weekend, you have the days off, when Ethan’s mother, Skye usually fetches him.”
“I don’t know,” Natalie said, fiddling with her hands.
“I just…” her voice was shaking.
I thought fast, “We could try it out for a week, see how it goes?”
I got up and nodded, to speed things along. “There is not much time to think about it, though. I need someone to help me with Ethan right away. I am busy, as you can see, so I need your answer, I’m afraid. Will you do it?”
“Yes,” Natalie said, softly.
“Super,” I said, briskly. “You have already settled into your new room, then?”
She nodded. “I will have to get a few more things though.”
“You can do that tonight when you get off at six. That sound right?”